NATURAL TEETH WHITENERS

We all want a beautiful smile with pearly white teeth, but years of drinking tea and coffee, smoking or just plain aging can discolor teeth. Teeth whitening is popular right now, especially since so many celebrities are doing it, yet whitening teeth is not a new discovery. It was practiced in Greece and India for thousands of years. The Greeks actually used urine to whiten their teeth and as a disease cure. While there are many more modern products today, some are safer than others.

Harsh bleaching agents used to whiten teeth can burn the teeth and wear down tooth enamel, erode gum tissue, or get absorbed into the body through the lining of the mouth. Hydrogen peroxide is a key ingredient in whitening products, but should not exceed 6%, even when prescribed by dentists. Be sure and check the ingredients of teeth whitening products found on on-line websites – many have been found to burn the lining of the mouth.

One of the most tried and true natural teeth whiteners which has been around for 6 generations is baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, “the only product in use today that was on the original list of products accepted by the American Dental Association”. Baking soda is safe and non-irritating to all oral tissues; with its gentle polishing action, it removes stains and plaque. The mild alkalinity of baking soda reacts with and removes substances that stain teeth. Tests have shown that toothpastes with 60 to 65% baking soda clean as well as conventional abrasives and show much less abrasion.

Another simple and tasty natural whitening solution is the strawberry. If used daily, strawberries can help rid the teeth of tea, coffee and cigarette stains. Simply take one medium-sized strawberry, remove the green top and stem, mash it into a pulp and brush and rinse normally. (Do not store; just mix as needed.) Eating strawberries when they are in season helps to brighten teeth too.

For healthy white teeth and clean tasting mouth, try the recipe below. There is a natural alternative to everything.

Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly with a toothbrush, your finger or a small spoon until a smooth paste forms. The paste shouldn’t be too runny; it has to stay on your toothbrush. Use daily. Do not store – mix as needed.